Successful modification | The parasite was generated by the genetic modification |
The mutant contains the following genetic modification(s) |
Gene tagging
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Reference (PubMed-PMID number) |
Reference 1 (PMID number) : 27978434 |
MR4 number |
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Parent parasite used to introduce the genetic modification |
Rodent Malaria Parasite | P. berghei |
Parent strain/line | P. berghei ANKA |
Name parent line/clone |
P. berghei ANKA 2.34
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Other information parent line | P. berghei ANKA 2.34 is a cloned, gametocyte producer line of the ANKA strain (PubMed: PMID: 15137943). |
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The mutant parasite was generated by |
Name PI/Researcher | Jacot D, Tewari R, Soldati-Favre D |
Name Group/Department | Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine |
Name Institute | University of Geneva |
City | Geneva |
Country | Switzerland |
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Name of the mutant parasite |
RMgm number | RMgm-4058 |
Principal name | PbGAC-GFP |
Alternative name | |
Standardized name | |
Is the mutant parasite cloned after genetic modification | Yes |
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Phenotype |
Asexual blood stage | Expression of GAC::GFP in cytoplasm. Distinct accumulation at the extreme apical end of the invasive merozoites |
Gametocyte/Gamete | Expression of GAC::GFP in cytoplasm |
Fertilization and ookinete | Expression of GAC::GFP in cytoplasm. Distinct accumulation at the extreme apical end of the invasive motile ookinetes. |
Oocyst | Expression of GAC::GFP in cytoplasm. |
Sporozoite | Expression of GAC::GFP in cytoplasm. Distinct accumulation at the extreme apical end of the invasive sporozoites. |
Liver stage | Not tested |
Additional remarks phenotype | Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses a C-terminal GFP-tagged version of GAC
Protein (function)
The paper provides evidence for the following (mainly based on analyses of GAC in T. gondii):
Apicomplexa exhibit a unique form of substrate dependent gliding motility central for host cell invasion and parasite dissemination. Gliding is powered by rearward translocation of apically secreted transmembrane adhesins via their interaction with the parasite actomyosin system. We report a conserved armadillo and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain containing protein, termed glideosome-associated connector (GAC), that mediates apicomplexan gliding motility, invasion, and egress by connecting the micronemal adhesins with the actomyosin system. TgGAC binds to and stabilizes filamentous actin and specifically associates with the transmembrane adhesin TgMIC2. GAC localizes to the apical pole in invasive stages of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei, and apical positioning of TgGAC depends on an apical lysine methyltransferase, TgAKMT. GAC PH domain also binds to phosphatidic acid, a lipid mediator associated with microneme exocytosis. Collectively, these findings indicate a central role for GAC in spatially and temporally coordinating gliding motility and invasion.
Phenotype
P. berghei, endogenous PbGAC fused to GFP was soluble and expressed at all life cycle stages examined. GAC::GFP locates to the cytosol at all stages and shows a distinct accumulation at the extreme apical end of the invasive blood stage merozoites, motile ookinetes, and sporozoites. Refined investigation by 3Dstructured illumination microscopy (SIM) revealed that GAC::GFP forms a ring-like structure at the apical end of both merozoite and ookinete
Additional information
Other mutants |